#31: The Travel Begins!

Amber's P.O.V***

I woke up to a strong smell of herbs, it was nauseating. As I sat upright, I noticed there was an iv of sorts stuck up my arm, as I moved a bit, it hurt me. As I managed, a nurse came and he immediately removed and taped it. I looked out the window, it was dark, pitch black night. How long was I out? As I thought about that very question, I remembered the events that led me to being in an infirmary.

I had bitten the werewolf General Selena!!!! Why do I have this bad control?! Just Why?! By this time, I had already bitten two important figures in the Werewolf clan. God.. Selena must be dying to kill me.

As the nurse left, I immediately got up and went to my room, on the way I asked a maid an extra pair of clothes as what I was wearing was already bloodied. And, I had no patience to remove my extra pair of clothes from my already packed bag.

"Right now?", The maid asked, as though it was very strange to ask for an extra pair of clothes.

"Yes, Please.", I added, I took no risks.

"Yes, I understand.", She bowed slightly and went, (She might have been the 'Give respect and take respect' type huh..)

I went inside the room and took off my clothes, it was icky with the blood totally dried up and had a really cold water bath, I was just not used to the amount of silver they owned, like if any royal ever came here, they would literally feel as though they were in hell's burning pit of fire.

I wrapped myself in a warm towel and came out, the servant had placed a new pair of clothes ready on the bed. I was about to change when I heard a scraping sound, coming from the window. I immediately wrapped a shawl over me and went ahead with my dagger.

Considering what happened back at the arena, I would not be surprised if it was General herself come to take my life. I stepped slowly asking ,"who is it?"

"....", Just silence, but there was a slight sound of breathing which could be heard clearly.

"I know you're there.", Since I heard voices, it must not be Selena, she would never make that mistake no matter how dire the situation is.

".... um.. its me.", I heard a voice as I came near the window, and a gust of wind blew and there was Luan standing on the window sill, looking red. Probably from climbing all the floors to reach here.

"Luan? May I know why have you come here, through a... window?" , I asked, covering myself up properly.

"Uh.. I just wanted to check if you're sleeping or not, because if I had knocked I would have disturbed your sleep...", He said, slowly getting back his composure.

"Oh.. I am awake, as you had seen, I am in the middle of changing clothes, So, I would request you to go back and come back through the door, please.", Saying so I turned around.

"Yes, I am sorry. ", he said as he left. I felt it weird to hear sorry, but I stopped my mind from overthinking it. It was just a courtesy. I said to myself.

I changed into the.. gown.. Yes, it was a long chemise. But it was very comfortable, the fabric was really soft and warm. As I was looking at the mirror, I heard a knock on the door. It was Luan.

"Come in.", I said.

"Yes.. So, are you alright?", He asked.

"Yes."

"So.. about what happened in the arena?", He asked.

"It was just a spar between me and the General since tomorrow I may face a lot of dangers and can't always depend on you for protecting me.", I replied, though I lied, I managed to keep a straight face.

"But, I can always protect you, I'd rather you relied on me...", he said, his eyes looking earnest.

"What?", I asked, Because it was not possible that he changed so suddenly.

"I meant I am far more stronger and better than you.", he said with the tone of his usual arrogance.

"Yes.", I said

"About tomorrow, I hope you are prepared and all, get some sleep.", he said and left in a jiffy.

"Yes, I will.", I replied, but before I could complete it, he had already gone out.

Great. I finally slept, and had a dream about Ariel, her smiling saying, 'I found you'.

I woke up with a start and it was still dark, but dawn was breaking slowly. I calmed myself slowly, I was just being paranoid. It was just my hallucination, but my body couldn't stop trembling. I shivered like that for a few minutes, when the sunlight seeped through curtains, I got up from the bed and washed up, prepared.

I went out to have breakfast at the crack of dawn, I was only going to drink blood. But as I went to the empty dining room, I saw, the very two people I wished to avoid, The Queen and General Selena.

"Good morning.", I said, It felt awkward to a thousand degrees than usual.

"Good morning.", I got a reply from the queen. My.. I felt so shocked to have gotten a reply. I wondered when might she have gotten up to be ready.

"So, You are going to the capital of your 'home'.", She said.

"Yes, Queen.", I said.

"Take General Selena along with you.", She said.

"I...", I was confused, I for one didn't want to even look at her as I was embarrassed but, the other thing, was that I was not the leader of this mission to just decide who may come or not, that decision must be made by Luan.

"No, there are enough people.", It was Luan, entering the hall.

"I want to come.", The General finally said, not even looking up. Unlike her usual self, who always stared a Luan at every chance.

"Why?", Luan asked.

"You are soft hearted, you might not make it.", She said.

"I am not.", He said.. and I could feel the tension between them, but it was slowly getting intense as it would only end in combat.

"Stop you both, Selena, Amber and you are going. That's final!", The Queen spoke and the whole room fell silent in accordance to her words.

"Fine, I hope you're packed.", He said to Selena.

"Yes, Please don't worry Luan.", She replied back smiling.

I quietly drank a whole glass of blood and prepared myself mentally, that whatever happens from now I must be alert. Saying so, we all started, awkwardly, none of us meeting eyes, as we walked past the city gates.

Luan was checking the map, Selena polishing her spear and me behind them. It was a strange sight to see them both so conflicting with each other but I was somehow calm, I was too afraid about the other thing, Ariel. It is highly possible that my dream was not just any dream but the truth.

And this sent shivers through my body. It was not a pleasant thing to be a living puppet which goes on a murder spree. If she ordered I might actually even kill myself or even Daisy. I noticed I was shivering again.

This time, a really weird thing happened, general Selena came and put her coat over me, saying,

"Are you cold? Here."

It was a surprisingly kind gesture...Just what happened????? Am I going to really die???

Haizz... I am tired..

"Don't frown.", Luan rubbed his finger on my eyebrows and smile.

Yup, I am dreaming. Something is really wrong....